10 Reasons to Own a Rottweiler
After taking our new puppy home for the first time, it only took us about a week to realize we will forever own a Rottweiler for the rest of our lives. Sure, we love dogs of all shapes and sizes but from our personal experience, we simply cannot imagine a life without a Rottie. Like with many other types of dogs, their distinctive characteristics stay pretty consistent among the breed and there isn’t anything to not fall in love with when it comes to Rottweilers. Well, maybe the chronic farting… we could live without that.
They’re Loyal to Their Owners
Our Rottweiler is a “momma’s boy” by definition – he will follow mom (Cassie) around the room while she gets ready, to the bathroom and probably to the end of the earth. There have been times where others have offered to walk our dog but if Kaiser knows his parents are staying behind, he will refuse to go on a walk with someone else unless we’re joining. Furthermore, our dog’s loyalty has been proven to extend beyond just treats – it’s comforting to know he wouldn’t trade us so easily for a steak dinner.
They Have Character
Like humans, dogs have a personality and the really good ones have character. Rotties often share the typical breed persona of being brave, calm, devoted and confident – all qualities of a good boy. What we enjoy noticing with our Rottweiler is how he switches between these temperaments and what causes him to do so, just like a person! We once watched him knock over the head of a snowman and then pee on it – call us crazy for thinking our dog has a sense of humor.
They Are Low Maintenance
Health wise, Rottweilers tend be pretty low maintenance and are not as prone to health related risks as other breeds. Especially for a large dog (who tend to have more problems than smaller dogs), we’ve rarely had to make vet visits that weren’t accident related. Their coats are easy to maintain, they don’t have a sensitive digestive system and as long as you keep their weight under control, you’re looking at a healthy 8-11 year life span.
They Know When to be Lazy and When to Not Be
Yes, there are times where you’ll need to incentivize a Rottweiler to get off the couch by dangling a piece of deli meat in front of him. Otherwise, he won’t budge. On the other hand, he’ll be just as interested in going on a hike as they are in the deli meat. I also don’t label them as lazy, but efficient instead. Rottweilers will know when something is worth the effort and when it’s not. Rottweilers don’t constantly need to be entertained or walked which is convenient for you if you feel like having an “indoor day” and relaxing – they won’t bug you and will gladly join you.
They’re Good Lookin’
There is no denying it, the Rottweiler is a beautiful breed and Kaiser gets reminded of this nearly each time we are in public. No wonder he enjoys being among people – must be nice to get called handsome while someone scratches your butt all the time. Don’t worry, this hasn’t fed his ego over the years. #stayhumble
They Can Look Intimidating
Pet dogs make wonderful companions but on some level, they still serve a purpose of protection (at least to us). Historically, the Rottweiler has received a bad reputation for being seen as aggressive in movies and TV over the years. Unfortunately, they’re being depicted incorrectly but occasionally, it can work to your advantage. No, we’re not influencing our dog to attack anyone, we are merely suggesting that if we’re out walking late at night, nobody will think twice about approaching us.
They’re Smart
The reason Rottweilers were utilized so much in films and TV is because they’re smart which allows them to be easily trained. If you’re firm and consistent, you can expect a perfectly mannered Rottweiler. Since they’re intelligent, they will however test you. Why? 1. They’re curious to see if you mean what you really mean and 2. They’re entertaining themselves with mind games. When our dog was a puppy, we tried to introduce him to a new type of dry food by giving him a scoop to eat from the palm of our hands. This led him stop eating out of his bowl and only eat if we fed him out of our hands – he had trained us into doing what he wanted.
They’re Versatile
We’ve been traveling with our dog since he was a puppy which probably explains why he’s so good at it now. I’m not entirely sure if this technique will work with any breed as I like to think of the Rottweiler as quite versatile and “down for the ride.” Especially when he was younger, we never ran into an activity he didn’t want to join us on. Even at an older age, our dog still picks up new tricks and hobbies which leads me to believe he has an inner sense of curiosity and adventure. Sure, he’s massive and clunky at times, but can still go kayaking with me if I ask him nicely.
They Play Well With Others
Overall, Rotties are friendly playmates. If you take them to a dog park, they can either be easily compatible with all types of dogs or could not care less about them and do their own thing. The only dogs we cannot seem to get Kaiser paired with are Pit bulls and the occasional Chihuahua.
Their good nature doesn’t just stop at dogs – if introduced properly, a Rottweiler will get along well with other house pets such as cats or even chickens and goats. When it comes to children, I am still in awe each time I watch a toddler tug on our dog’s ears and him not reacting one bit. They’re gentle giants when it comes to children.
They’re Unique
If you own a Golden Retriever, chances are you aren’t super excited each time you see another Golden Retriever. It’s the exact opposite if you own a Rottweiler. We have yet to meet another Rottweiler owner that isn’t as psyched as we are when we spot another set of mahogany eyebrows from across the park. It’s not that they’re rare but they are not common which sets you apart in more ways than one among the sea of French Bulldogs.
